Before answering this question it is important to understand what sub standard stone is and how to identify it from a premium quality stone.

For the last few years and probably for the next few to come the best selling coloured granite has been black. A good quality black stone has a real depth to the gloss shine. If the sheen on the granite looks a little dull when viewing a slab the chances are it will not look good in your home. If you visit a granite supplier to view slabs ask them where the particular stone comes from and also if it has been sealed (some granite can change a shade or two during this process). If their answer is not to your satisfaction do not buy from them. All reputable suppliers will know the history of each slab or batch as they normally only source from a couple of quarries.

Recently there have been a number of cheap suppliers selling granite in the UK that is painted. Naturally these suppliers will not be named. If they paint the final product your worktops will not look good long term and it may effect the sealant used, if any.

Companies who buy in pre-cut lengths also have similar problems as well as differences in thickness. Granite slabs are normally cut to about 32mm but can vary and be as thin as 28mm depending on the grain and contrast of the slab and how much polishing is required to finish of the slab. Common sense will tell you that if you try and make a join with one slab being 31mm thick and the other being 28mm thick it is going to look awful. So please avoid companies like this. Another important point to note is that if a company does not know the history of a slab how can they tell if it has been sealed or not. If you have a classic 'L' shape kitchen and only one slab has been sealed, when sealing again you could end up with two different shades of granite.

An easier way to look at coloured granites such as blue and green is to look at the sharpness of the colours. If they look washed out the chances are that they have been sold that slab cheaply. It is not unknown for some companies to sell black worktops that more closely resemble grey.

Our quarry suppliers have been trading with our manufacturers for many years and have a good reputation for that reason. All our members have agreed to work to a Code of Practice so you can rest assured that if the quality is not 1st class we will not use it. In fact many of our members are often asked to make bespoke items such as basin and butler sinks, so using an inferior granite slab is definitely out of the question.

To summarise ask a supplier about the slabs history, check for depth in the shine and look out for the sharpness of the colours. If you follow these 3 points hopefully you won't go to far wrong.